Giannis Antetokounmpo Says "Not So Fast," And the Timberwolves Are Drowning in Bad News

Woah, hold up, sports fans. The NBA Draft is literally tomorrow, and what we thought would be a full-on fireworks show of blockbuster trades is starting to look like a dud for some teams. Specifically, it's looking pretty rough for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were supposedly in the running for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP and 10-time All-Star. But get this: the latest word on Monday says it's now a two-team race, and Minnesota isn't one of them. Talk about a gut punch right before the big night!

The Giannis Dream Is Officially Dead For Minnesota

Remember just Sunday when ESPN's Ramona Shelburne was reporting the Wolves, along with Boston and Miami, were all vying for the Bucks superstar? Well, that dream crashed and burned faster than a bad 4th quarter collapse. Marc Stein of The Stein Line Substack dropped the bomb: Minnesota has been out of the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes since Friday! According to Stein, the Bucks told the Wolves they want "even more now than the teams discussed in the winter." That's a brutal play by Milwaukee, upping the ante when the Wolves thought they were close. ESPN's Shams Charania is backing this up, reporting Monday that the Celtics and Heat are now the *only* finalists. Even Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic's long-time Timberwolves beat reporter, who's usually pretty dialed in, says the odds are "very slim" for Minnesota, despite believing the door "stays open" the longer a deal isn't done. But let's be real, Emerald City, "very slim" feels like "not happening" when you're talking about a guy like Giannis

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Struggling to Land a Single Ballhandler?

With Giannis off the table, the Wolves pivoted their interest to other guards. They were reportedly eyeing Kyrie Irving, but that's a no-go, as he's unlikely to be traded by Dallas. So, the focus shifted to Boston's Derrick White and Chicago's Josh Giddey. Here's where it gets even more frustrating for them: it seems neither the Celtics nor the Bulls are all that jazzed about what Minnesota's offering. Krawczynski reported that the Wolves have been "most aggressive in pursuing White," but Boston has "rebuffed the Wolves' advances." Ouch. And Giddey? Krawczynski noted he's an "intriguing name," especially with Chicago's new regime, but the Wolves haven't gotten any indications the Bulls are willing to deal him, at least not for what Minnesota has on the table. It's like everyone else smells blood in the water.

What's Left on the Table Before the Draft Clock Starts?

Another name Krawczynski threw out there is New Orleans forward Trey Murphy III. He'd definitely help space the floor, especially since Donte DiVincenzo is out for most of next season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. That's a big hole to fill. But let's be honest: Murphy isn't the No. 1 ballhandler the Wolves desperately need to let Anthony Edwards play his natural shooting guard position. So, what's at stake here for Minnesota? They're heading into Draft night on Tuesday, fresh off being told they're out of the running for a league MVP and struggling to even get a sniff on other key targets. It's a tough spot to be in, and you gotta wonder what kind of moves they'll be able to pull off now to actually improve their team.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.